Webinar on the 2020 Voluntary National Reviews24 March 202010:00 – 12:00 ICT
The Role of Second Generation VNRsJulia Joëlle Müller
Environment and Development Division
Voluntary National Reviews
In general, aim to 2nd generation VNRs
• assess progress
• identify challenges
• inform recommendations for follow-up
• mobilize multi-stakeholder involvement and partnerships
• strengthen policies and institutions of governments
• demonstrate renewed and continued commitment
• catalyse progress
• maintain awareness
• establish a platform for dialogue
• provide a platform to deliver the promises
Frist vs. Second Generation VNRs
First Generation VNRs Second Generation VNRs
• static logic
• starting situation
• dynamic perspective
• reporting on the process and progress
Second Generation VNRs
It is expected, that countries incorporate the experiences, feedback and lessons learned from the previous review, to proceed with an advanced process and approach in the second VNR.
➢ encouraging more stakeholders to get meaningfully involved
➢ providing a more complete picture of progress
➢ improving the VNR process and the methodology used to conduct consultations and draft the report
Source: Cepei, 2019
Second Generation
VNR Reports
• More comprehensive and detailed
• Focus on the continuing progress
• Reflect on follow-up actions
• Make reference to the previous report
• Lessons learned and areas of progress
Suggestions:
➢ systematic review of progress from one to the next VNR
➢ follow-up actions between reporting periods
Institutional Mechanisms and Mainstreaming
• Turkey• The Presidency of Strategy and Budget became the new focal point for SDGs and
coordinated the 2nd generation VNR
• For each SDG, institutional responsibility was assigned to a ministry
• The Philippines• Incorporation of the SDGs into its national development framework as a ‘next step’ in
its first VNR, was taken up in its second VNR
• SDGs were incorporated into the Philippine Development Plan
• A Sub-Committee on the SDGs was created for resource mobilization
Stakeholder Engagement
• Indonesia• All stakeholders were informed about the VNR timeline and schedule
• The SDGs National Coordinating Team enabled a more coordinated and participatory preparation and formulation of process of the 2nd VNR in 2019
• Online and offline consultations, incorporation of best practices, SDG Centres
• Turkey• A circular was sent to representatives from government bodies, NGOs, companies
and municipalities for direct consultation
• National Sustainable Development Goals Best Practices database
VNR Process and Methodology
• Azerbaijan• Methodology of the review was based on the Voluntary Common Reporting
Guidelines by the Secretary-General and UNDESA
• The Philippines• Meetings to map key stakeholders and include previous years’ feedback
• Consultation workshops to gather inputs and data
• SDG Website to solicit comments on the draft of the VNR
• “the VNR process is as important as the product itself”
Progress on the
Goals and Targets
➢ encouraged to provide a complete picture of achievement, with information on the progress of all SDGs
• Content• Policy Mainstreaming, Assessment, Best
Practices
• Trend Analysis, Challenges, The Way Forward, Lessons Learned
• Policies, Legislation, Important Developments and Improvement Areas, Next Steps
Recommendations
• Take a cycle perspective
• Retrieve the ‘next steps’ committed in the previous VNR
• Express how feedback and input on the first report was incorporated
• Inform, share and request
• Identify and inform about progress, stagnations and setbacks
• Encourage broad stakeholder involvement
• Identify whether the processes produce changes for vulnerable groups
• Cover all 17 SDGs
• Be clear on the ‘next steps’, challenges, and needed support
Thank you!
Handbook for the Preparation of Voluntary National Reviews
Reference Material
Voluntary Common Reporting Guidelines for Voluntary National Reviews at the HLPF
• “to promote consistency and
comparability”
• “to help inform the process of review
and generate reflections on
implementation”
• supplement the guidelines
• provide basic information on the
steps to take when preparing VNRs
• Available in English, Arabic, Chinese,
French, and Spanish
Further Readings: Cepei, 2019; Partners for Review, 2019